Packaging apparatus



June 28, 1955 c. B. CAPPS PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l a lie 70 June-28,1955 c. B. CAPPS PACKAGING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 9, 1951 Q 80 0 L 2 d 4 & Wm w 4? -|...l| m b a M w @g z 3, 2w M m 5 Shets-Sheet 3 J1me 1955 c. B. cAPPs PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed 001;. 9, 1951,

June 28, 1955 c. B. cAPF's 2,711,848

PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 1955 c. B. CAPPS PACKAGING APPARATUS s sneaks-sheet 5 Filed Oct. 9, 1951 PACKAGING APPARATUS Count B. Capps, Fort Worth, Tex.; Reba Capps, executrix of said Count B. Capps, deceased Application October 9, 1951, Serial No. 250,488

15 Claims. (Cl. 226-48) This invention relates to packaging machinery and is particularly concerned with the provision of a machine which will hold a paper bag or other flexible tubular member in extended position to facilitate the entrance therein of the material to be packaged.

As is commonly understood, there is considerable difiiculty in filling a paper bag or flexible paper tube with any material having substantially the same cross section as the bag in extended position- Filling bags by hand under such circumstances is slow and difficult and often results in the bag being torn.

Accordingly, the present invention contemplates the provision of mechanism which will expand the bag, hold it in expanded condition in a horizontal position and, at the same time, provide guiding and directing mechanism within which the load may be placed and from which position the load may be moved easily and freely within the confines of the bag Wall. While reference throughout the specification will be made to a bag in which the bottom end has been previously closed in the usual manner,

it will be understood that the machine may be used with a tubular paper member into which the load may be placed with the two ends of the tube to be closed thereafter.

The invention includes power operated elements which extend the bag initially and which may later be contracted to original position so that the loaded bag may be easily removed and thereafter have its open end sealed thereby completing the package.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a plan view of the loading table showing the bag at the right prior to being placed on the expander and the load at the left waiting to be directed into the bag.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1 showing the bag initially positioned over the expander.

Fig. 3 is a partial front elevation similar to Fig. 2 showing the expander actuated to hold the bag at its maximum dimension.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail in front elevation, partially in section, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detailed section on the line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a modified form of the invention showing the bag mounted in expanded position.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the mechanism is mounted on any suitable supporting surface such as the table 2 which as shown is carried by legs 4 testing on the fioor 6.

The invention in general comprises two sets of spreadable parallel fingers d spaced laterally a suitable distance according to the size of package required and on which a. bag 10 may be loosely placed while the fingers are in contracted position. Then by actuation of an air cylinder 12 the fingers are caused to spread vertically as shown in Fig. 3 to bring the bag to its maximum dimen- Patented June 28, 1%55 sion. While the bag is maintained in this position, the load, indicated at 14 and positioned within suitable guiding mechanism, may then be pushed to the right into the expanded bag. Then the mechanism is again actuated to contract the fingers to the position shown in Fig. 2, thus relieving the tension on the bag and permitting it to be drawn off the fingers to the right with the load therein. The bag is sealed at its open end and the package is ready for delivery.

The mechanism will now be described in further detail. Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be seen that there is mounted on the table 2 a crosswise extending channel 16 having downwardly turned ends 18 and 20. These ends extend through openings in the table and are atfixed in any convenient manner to provide substantial rigidity of the channel 16 with respect to the table.

Horizontally secured to the top of channel 16 and extending longitudinally of the table are a pair of spaced lingers in the form of angle irons 22 and 24 which have riveted thereto a horizontal plate 26 long enough to receive the full length of the package. As can be seen in Fig. 5, plate 26 extends to the right from channel 16 in cantilever fashion and parallels the table 2. This and the angle irons provide the basic support for the other expandable elements or fingers.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the expandable fingers comprise in addition to angle irons 22 and Z4, and their parallel inner bars 23 and 25, longitudinally extending pairs of fingers in the form of flat bars 28 and 3t), 32 and 34, upper angle iron 36, inner bar 38, upper angle iron 40 and inner bar 42. These bars are parallel and have positioned between them and pivotally connected thereto links 44, 46, 48, 5t 52, 54, 56 and 58 of narrow horizontal dimension. The links are secured between the several horizontal parallel fingers already referred to and are completely encased by these fingers when the latter are in contracted position as shown in Fig. 2. The use of the pairs of fingers to straddle and support the links provides additional rigidity and materially increases the life of the unit. The rivets connecting the horizontal fingers with the links are indicated at 63 throughout and are provided with fiush heads so that there will be nothing protruding to catch the load as it is being introduced into the bag.

The mechanism used to actuate the parallel linkage that has just been described is as follows. At each outer side of the vertical channels 18 and 20 are provided guides 62, 64, 66 and 68 in which are positioned for vertical sliding movement, T-bars 70 and 72. The top end of T-bar 70 is welded to angle iron 36 at 71 and the top end of T-bar 72 is welded to angle iron 4% at 73. The rigidity of the parts is sufficient to hold angle'irons 36 and 40 in horizontal position as the T-bars may be moved vertically.

The lower ends of T-bars 79 and 72 are fastened to a transversely extending member 74 by means of the threaded ends 76 and 78 which pass through the ends of member 74 and are secured by nuts 80 and 82. This arrangement holds both T-bars in parallelism and at right angles to the member 74.

Also affixed to the vertical channels 18 and 20 are a pair of pulleys 84 and 86 over which pass the cables 88 and 90. One end of each cable passes through a hole in member 74 and is secured in any convenient manner as, for example, by knotting as at 92 and 94. The other ends of the cables 88 and are fastened to a horizontal bar 96 which is mounted on the lower end of piston 98 of air cylinder 12. A vertical bracket 100 secured to the under side of the table extends downwardly a sufiicient distance to act at its lower end 102 as the lower support for a tension spring 104, the upper end of which is secured to member 74 at 106.

From this description and by reference to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 it is believed clear that upon downward movement of piston 98 and cross bar 96 the cables 88 and 90 will be drawn downwardly and the member 74 will be drawn upwardly with corresponding stretching of spring 104 to move the T-bars 7t) and 72 from the down position shown in Fig. 2 to the up position shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Upward movement of the T-bars 70 and 72 carries with them angles 36 and 40 and causes the horizontal parallel elements to expand from the closed position of Fig. 2 to the expanded positions of Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

The air cylinder 12 is actuated in the following manner. There is provided a source of compressed air which leads to valve 108 through air supply pipe 110. A hose connection 112 connects valve 168 with air cylinder 12. A foot treadle 114 is so positioned that the operator standing by the table may easily actuate the treadle thereby opening the valve through movement of the connecting linkage 116 shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Upon release of the foot treadle 114 by the operator, the valve 108 will function to permit escape of air from air cylinder 12, at which time the tension in elongated spring 184 will be sufficient to draw the T 74 downwardly, forcing piston 98 upwardly as the cables 88 and 90 are moved on pulleys 84 and 86. The downward motion of member 74 will continue until the parallel fingers have been moved to their downmost retracted position, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 that the angle iron 22 extends inside the T-bar to the left where it has a guiding outwardly flared extension 118 and, on the opposite side, the angle iron 24 has a similar guiding exten sion 120. Within these two extensions there is positioned the right hand end of a shallow trough 122, having side walls 124 and 126 and an end wall 128. The trough includes also a bottom 130, the right hand end of which is above the base plate 26 and overlies it a limited distance, as shown in Fig. 5.

The left hand ends of bars 31) and 32, one of which is indicated at 132 in Figs. 2 and 3, also turn outwardly so that their ends are farther apart than the walls 124- and 126 of trough 122. Similarly, the left hand ends of bars 38 and 42 turn outwardly as indicated at 134 in Figs. 2 and 3 and are farther apart than the walls 124 and 126.

The purpose of the arrangement just described is to provide guiding means for directing the load without interference to a position within the horizontal fingers over which is positioned the bag at the time of loading.

Having now described the construction of the mechanism of the invention, the mode of using it will be explained. Assume that it is desired to prepare a package containing several laundered shirts. The operator will position a suitable number of shirts as shown schematically at 136 in Fig. 1 within a vertical frame 138 usually of cardboard. The frame will be of proper dimensions to fit within the trough 122 and the height of the frame will be arranged to permit its insertion within the bag when the latter is expanded by the fingers to its maximum dimensions.

With the load thus set up as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 and with the parallel linkage in contracted position as shown in Fig. 2, the operator then slides the open end of bag 19 over the right hand end of the contracted fingers for a distance substantially equal to its depth. The foot treadle 114 is then actuated causing the fingers to be expanded in parallelism as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. As the horizontal spacing of the fingers is made equal to the normal width of the bag that is to be used in the packaging operation, the spreading of the bars will expand the bag to its maximum rectangular dimension. This dimension, by prearrangement, is adequate to receive the load 14. The operator then pushes the load to the right in which direction it may slide freely on the bottom plates of the trough and expander and will be guided by the leading out-turned ends of the spaced horizontal fingers to pass freely into the bag.

The operator then releases foot treadle 114, causing the fingers to retract to the position of Fig. 2, thereby removing the expansive tension on the bag without disturbing the bag or contents and permitting the bag and the load to be moved easily off the fingers to the right. The open end of the bag may then be sealed in any convenient manner and the package is complete.

A modification of the invention utilizing simplified structure is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and will now be described.

Referring to Fig. 7, it can be seen that the bottom 149 of trough 142 extends continuously to the right and forms, as at 144, the bottom plate of the expander mechanism. The trough wall 146 is reduced in height somewhat as at 148 and then continues to the right to provide vertical sides 150 and 152 for the said bottom plate 144.

Trough 142 is mounted on the base or supporting surface by placing the bottom 140 on a spacer 154 which terminates at 156 so that bottom plate 144 overhangs the base or table 2 in cantilever fashion to provide a continuous space 158 between the plate and table top.

Attached to the underside of plate 144 is the top transverse side 160 of a rectangular frame 161, having as its other sides the vertical elements 162 and 164 and the bottom member 166. This rectangular frame 161 hangs downwardly vertically through slot 168 in the table 2. Since the connection between member 160 and plate 144 is close to the end 156 of spacer 154, the rigidity of the rectangular frame 161 is sufficient for the purpose intended. However, to increase the rigidity diagonal reenforcing members 170 and 172 are provided at the bottom corners.

The mounting means comprises two pairs of rollers on each side of the rectangular frame 161. The rollers mounted on vertical member 162 being indicated at 176 and 178 and the two pairs of rollers mounted on member 164 being indicated at and 182. A vertically movable frame 174 is mounted with one side 184 between rollers 176 and 178 carried by vertical member 162 and another side element 186 is mounted between rollers 180 and 182, carried by vertical member 164. Members 184 and 186 are connected at their bottom ends by cross bar 188. Another cross bar 190 extends between bars 184 and 186 and rests on a piston 192 that is vertically movable by actuation of an air cylinder 194. Air cylinder 194 is mounted on cross bar 166 and extends upwardly through an opening 196 in cross bar 188.

The upper ends of bars 184 and 186 have rigidly afiixed thereto by bolts or welding, horizontal angle irons 198 and 200. The left-hand ends of these angle irons, as viewed in Fig. 7, are turned upwardly and outwardly a as at 202 and 204 while the remote end is cut away on the vertical side only, as at 206, to leave as the outer end portion the flat section 208 only of the angle iron 198. The side walls 150 and 152 are likewise cut away, as at 210, in a configuration corresponding to 206, likewise leaving the plate 144 without side walls at its outer end as at 212.

The air cylinder 194 is actuated by an air supply line 214 which is controlled by a valve 216 operated by a foot treadle and conventional linkage 218, 220 and 224.

- A check valve 226 permits quick upward movement of piston 192 when valve 216 is open but provides for a slow escape of air therethrough when valve 216 is closed so that the frame 174 can be moved upwardly rapidly and downwardly relatively slowly. in addition spring cushioned snubbers 228 and 230 are positioned to engage the underside of cross bar 190 as frame 174 reaches downward position.

The operation of the construction disclosed in Figs. 7 and 8 is as follows. The laundry containing unit 232 is placed in trough 142 with frame 174 in downward position. A bag 234 is slid over plate 144 and angle irons 198 and 200, the lower side of the bag entering the space 158 between table 2 and plate 144. The extreme end of plate 144 is flat as the sides 150 and 152 have been cut away at 212. Similarly, the ends of angle irons 198 and 200 are fiat as their sides have been cut away as at 208. Accordingly, during opening, there is little or no tendency for the bottom end of the bag to be punctured as might be the case were the side vertical elements present.

The operator then steps on treadle 218, admitting air to cylinder 194, driving piston 192 and the frame 174 upwardly until the bag 234 is expanded to its maximum, as shown in Fig. 7. The laundry unit 232 is then moved to the right along plate 144 to enter bag 234 without interference as the vertical sides of the bag are laterally spaced from the vertical sides of the unit 232. As soon as the inserted unit has reached the bottom of the bag, the foot treadle 218 is released, cutting off the air supply so that piston 192 and frame 174 commences a slow descent. This takes the tension off the bag so that the bag and contents may then be readily removed from the expanding mechanism.

Having now described two specific forms of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other modifications may be devised which will operate in the same general manner and be the equivalent thereof.

It is my intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A packaging mechanism comprising a load carrying platform mounted on a suitable base, a fixed cantilever support extending from said platform onto which a load from said platform may be moved, a pair of horizontal elements each parallel to the sides of said support and laterally spaced to the width of said support and over which said elements and support a bag may be freely placed and means for moving said spaced horizontal elements vertically upwardly while maintained in horizontal position to open said bag to its fullest extent to permit the introduction therein of a load from said platform.

2. A packaging mechanism as set forth in claim 1, said means for moving said spaced elements upwardly comprising an air cylinder.

3. A packaging mechanism as set forth in claim 1, said spaced elements having flaring portions at the ends adjacent said platform to assist in guiding a load into said opened bag.

4. A packaging mechanism as set forth in claim 1, said spaced elements being supported at points close to said platform, said elements and cantilever support being sub stantially coextensive.

5. A packaging mechanism comprising a load carrying platform, two laterally spaced pairs of horizontal parallel members adjacent to and aligned with said platform and mounted in cantilever fashion to permit the positioning of a bag thereover, the lower member of each pair of spaced members being fixed and constituting an extension of said platform, the upper member of each pair of spaced members being carried by means movable vertically while remaining in horizontal position to separate said lower and upper members thereby to expand a bag placed thereover to its maximum dimension.

6. A packaging mechanism as set forth in claim 5, said means for separating said members vertically comprising two spaced vertical supports located exteriorly of said upper and lower members, each vertical support being secured to each upper members on the members outer side, and manually controlled means for moving said vertical supports up and down to separate or bring together said upper and lower members.

7. A packaging mechanism comprising a loading platform, a fixed lower member aligned with said platform,

vertically movable upper members, both said lower and upper members mounted in cantilever fashion to permit the positioning of a bag thereover, an air cylinder having a piston therein, means for controlling the admission of air to said cylinder to move said piston, connecting means between said upper members and said piston whereby upon actuation of said piston said lower and upper members will be spread vertically, and means for returning said members to initial contracted position.

8. A packaging mechanism as set forth in claim 1, said fixed cantilever support having side walls over part of its length with said walls terminating short of the end of said support.

9. A packaging mechanism as set forth in claim 1, said fixed cantilever support and said spaced elements having side walls over part of their lengths with said walls terminating short of the ends of said support and elements.

10. A packaging mechanism as set forth in claim 1, said fixed cantilever support and said spaced elements having horizontal portions and guiding side walls which walls terminate short of the ends of said support and elements.

11. A packaging mechanism as in claim 5, each of said upper parallel members being pivotally linked with said fixed lower member.

12. A packaging mechanism comprising two sets of spaced horizontal parallel fingers with links therebetween, means for mounting said fingers on a support in cantilever fashion to permit the positioning of a bag thereover, means for spreading said fingers vertically to expand a bag placed thereover to its maximum dimension, said sets of fingers having a horizontal plate for supporting a load positioned between the bottom pair of spaced fingers, a material holding platform longitudinally aligned with said spaced fingers with its bottom not lower than said plate, said fingers on the ends towards said platform having outwardly turned portions to guide material from said platform into an expanded bag mounted on said fingers.

13. A packaging mechanism comprising two sets of spaced horizontal parallel fingers with links therebetween, each of said fingers comprising two spaced elements one on each side of the pivoted end of each said link, whereby when said fingers are in contracted position, said links will be substantially enclosed by the elements of said fingers, the interior elements of said fingers having smooth faces, means for mounting said fingers in cantilever fashion so that a bag may be positioned thereon, means for spreading said fingers to extend a bag positioned thereon to maximum dimension, and a material holding platform adjacent the entrance end of said fingers.

14. A packaging mechanism comprising two sets of spaced horizontal parallel fingers with links therebetween, means for mounting said fingers on a support in cantilever fashion to permit the positioning of a bag thereover, two spaced vertical members located exteriorly of said spaced fingers, each vertical member being secured to the upper finger on its respective side, an air cylinder with a piston therein, a source of compressed air, means for controling the admission of said compressed air to said cylinder to move said piston, cables secured to said members and to said piston so that upon admission of said air to said cylinder and the resulting movement of said piston, said member will be moved upwardly to spread said fingers, and means opposing the said upward movement of said members for restoring said members to their original down position upon release of air from said cylinder.

15. A packaging mechanism comprising a load carrying platform having a cantilever extension therefrom onto which a load from said platform may be moved, guiding side walls for said extension, a frame depending below said extension adjacent said platform, an air cylinder and piston carried by said frame, vertical bars on either side of said extension, means connecting said vertical bars to said piston whereby said bars may be moved '7 up and down as said piston is actuated, horizontal cantilever members secured to said bars overlying and substantially coextensive with the side walls of said extension whereby a bag may be positioned over said extension and said horizontal members when said vertical bars are in down position and said bag may then be expanded when said vertical bars are moved upwardly by said air cylinder to permit a load of suitable size to be moved from said platform onto said extension and into said bag References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS French Mar. 24, 1903 Colby Dec. 21, 1926 Becker July 11, 1933 Beauclerk Feb. 26, 1935 Peters July 24, 1951 Davies Mar. 31, 1953 

